Rectal thermosensing unit

Abstract

A rectal thermosensing unit for sensing temperature of a patient's rectal tissue includes a temperature sensing device and an inflatable balloon defining a void interior. The balloon is coupled to and supports the temperature sensing device. Inflation of the balloon positions and maintains the temperature sensing device in contact with the rectal tissue without compressing the rectal tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rectal thermosensing unit for sensing temperature of rectal tissue, the unit comprising: an inflatable balloon having a first end, a second end and a wall defining an interior surface and an exterior surface of the balloon, a portion of the wall defining a groove in the exterior surface;   a handle coupled to the inflatable balloon; and   a temperature sensing device connected to the balloon within the groove.   
     
     
       2. The rectal thermosensing unit of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensing device comprises: a flexible circuit member;   a temperature sensor supported on the flexible circuit member; and   a protective strip encapsulating the flexible circuit member and the temperature sensor, the protective strip cooperating with the exterior surface of the balloon to provide a substantially smooth outer contour of the balloon.   
     
     
       3. The rectal thermosensing unit of claim 2, wherein the protective strip is fixedly adhesively bonded to the groove in the exterior surface of the balloon. 
     
     
       4. The rectal thermosensing unit of claim 2, wherein the temperature sensing device further comprises a plurality of temperature sensors supported on the flexible circuit member and spaced from each other along a length of the flexible circuit member. 
     
     
       5. The rectal thermosensing unit of claim 4, further comprising conductive traces on the flexible circuit member for electrically connecting to the plurality of temperature sensors and to thermometry circuitry external to the balloon and the temperature sensing device. 
     
     
       6. The rectal thermosensing unit of claim 2, wherein the protective strip includes a plurality of notches positioned at spaced intervals along a length of the protective strip. 
     
     
       7. A rectal thermosensing unit for sensing temperature of rectal tissue, the unit comprising: an inflatable balloon having a first end, a second end and a wall defining an interior of the balloon, the balloon having an exterior surface extending between the first end and the second end of the balloon;   a handle coupled to the inflatable balloon;   a temperature sensing device having a height; and   a groove in the exterior surface of the inflatable balloon having a depth no less than the height of the temperature sensing device, the groove receiving the temperature sensing device so that inflation of the balloon positions and maintains the temperature sensing device in proximal contact with a rectal wall while preventing the temperature sensing device from projecting beyond the exterior surface of the balloon.   
     
     
       8. The rectal thermosensing unit of claim 7, wherein the temperature sensing device comprises: a flexible circuit member;   a temperature sensor supported on the flexible circuit member; and   a protective strip encapsulating the flexible circuit member and the temperature sensor, the protective strip cooperating with the exterior surface of the balloon to provide a substantially smooth outer contour of the balloon.   
     
     
       9. The rectal thermosensing unit of claim 8, wherein the protective strip is fixedly adhesively bonded to the groove in the exterior surface of the balloon. 
     
     
       10. The rectal thermosensing unit of claim 8, wherein the temperature sensing device further comprises a plurality of temperature sensors supported on the flexible circuit member and spaced from each other along a length of the flexible circuit member. 
     
     
       11. The rectal thermosensing unit of claim 10, further comprising conductive traces on the flexible circuit member for electrically connecting to the plurality of temperature sensors and to thermometry circuitry external to the balloon and the temperature sensing device. 
     
     
       12. The rectal thermosensing unit of claim 8, wherein the protective strip includes a plurality of notches positioned at spaced intervals along a length of the protective strip.